Lewiston-Porter School District learns budget woes

by jmaloni

Sat, Mar 23rd 2013 07:00 am

by Janet Schultz

The Lewiston Porter
Board of Education meeting Tuesday night was an evening of ups and downs.

Opening
the meeting with a presentation on the capital project that will go to the
district residents for vote in May, architect Scott Jones showed more details
on a project that will transform and upgrade areas of the high school building,
including adding a new section that will contain a swimming pool and locker
facilities. Each school building on the campus will also have entry areas
renovated, providing for a more secure access from the outside.

Superintendent
Christopher Roser explained that the capital project would take no funds from
the district's budget. It will be funded through state aid (72 percent) and the
balance from Greenway funding and the New York Power Authority.

"I want residents to
understand that there is money in the state
(budget) for capital construction. It is for that purpose only and if we don't
apply for it, other districts will," said Roser. "This money cannot be used for
the educational budgets in districts, but strictly for capital improvement."

He went on to explain
that the high school building project was removed from previous capital
projects due to funding and that it's now time to make renovations and
improvements to that building.

Jones also went over
the proposed schedule for the project, which will be voted on in May by the
residents. Following the vote, the plans would be finalized and sent to the
State Education Department for approval. Once approved, the project would go to
bid, about February 2014, and construction would begin in the spring of 2014
and be completed by January 2016.

The next presentation
brought reality to district residents as Roser announced that the district
would be facing one of its toughest years yet.

"The budget hasn't
grown much over the past five years," said Roser. "We've downsized quietly and
carefully and been very cautious about increasing the taxes."

With the loss in
state aid and the gap elimination adjustment, the district has lost almost $5
million in two years.

"We have to come in
with a budget that is less than it was this year," said Roser.

The board is looking
at a reduction in staffing through retirements, saving approximately $701,000
and eliminating 10 teaching positions. The result would be an increase in class
sizes, elimination of some electives and doing without some things the district
is used to having. In addition, they are looking at not replacing the assistant
superintendent for finance, a human resources person, a grounds person,
maintenance person, a clerical position, two aides and one special education
person. All of these are retirements.

Other areas where
Roser sees some savings is by making $81,000 in modifications in
transportation, cutting modified sports and saving $44,600 and looking at how
business is conducted in the district.

With all of that, the
district still has a budget gap of $546,000; some may be picked up through
state aid but, Roser explained, it will not be enough.

Looking at raising
the tax levy beyond the 4 percent cap is not out of the question. However, that
would require a 60 percent positive vote by the district voters.

Roser stressed that
these are things being looked at, and the board will be holding budget
workshops on March 26 at 5 p.m. and April 9 at 6:30 p.m.

In related news, the
Lew-Port School District website has debuted a new forum for residents to
submit cost-saving ideas to the district. Titled "Every Penny Counts," the
online link invites residents to offer input in a "Cost Savings Suggestion
Box."

"Your input is
important to us!" reads the announcement. "As the district develops a 2013-2014
budget, the 'Cost Savings Suggestion Box' allows community members to submit
ideas and/or suggestions for how the district can contain costs. Suggestions
will be shared with the Board of Education and administrative team for
consideration throughout the budget development process.

"The district offers
the 'Cost Savings Suggestion Box' to make it easy for the community to offer
suggestions or ideas anytime from now until the budget adoption in April."

The board approved a
resolution on the details of the annual meeting and election to be held May 21
from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Community Resource Center. Petitions for
nomination of a candidate for the Board of Education are available and must be
received in the office of the district clerk no later than 5 p.m. Monday, April
22. Drawing for candidates' positions will be held April 23.

Voter propositions
must be submitted no later than April 6 (45 days) or April 1 (50 days),
dependent on the proposition's content.

The annual budget
hearing will be held Tuesday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Resource
Center, and the regular Board of Education meeting will be held Tuesday, May
28.

In other business,
the board:

•Named Keith Fox to
serve as the representative to the Board of Education of the Orleans/Niagara
Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). He replaces former board
member Wendy Swearingen.

•Recognized Barbara
LaBernardo, secretary to the high school principal, and Linda Bedore, cleaner;
both are retiring.

The board went into
executive session at 8:30 p.m. to discuss the superintendent's contract. No
action was taken.

The Lewiston-Porter
District Art Show will be held March 23 through April 21 at the Niagara Arts
and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls.

The Intermediate and
Middle Schools collected Pennies for Patients that will go toward cancer
research for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Together they raised over
$4,200. The drive was in honor of 18-year-old Tim Midgley, a graduate of
Lew-Port.